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Qualitative questionnaires as a method for information studies research

Rivano Eckerdal, Johanna LU orcid and Hagström, Charlotte LU (2017) The Nineth International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science (CoLIS) In Information Research 22(1).
Abstract
Introduction. We present qualitative questionnaires, originally an ethnological method for documenting and collecting material about everyday life, as a fruitful method for information studies.
Method. Since the early 20th century qualitative questionnaires, on various themes, have been sent out to informants. The answers to qualitative questionnaires consist of memories, opinions and experiences. Most archives working with questionnaires have regular informants who have enrolled because they are interested in sharing their knowledge of and views on everyday life. The paper starts with a brief presentation of the development of the method followed by a discussion about how answers to qualitative questionnaires may be analysed to... (More)
Introduction. We present qualitative questionnaires, originally an ethnological method for documenting and collecting material about everyday life, as a fruitful method for information studies.
Method. Since the early 20th century qualitative questionnaires, on various themes, have been sent out to informants. The answers to qualitative questionnaires consist of memories, opinions and experiences. Most archives working with questionnaires have regular informants who have enrolled because they are interested in sharing their knowledge of and views on everyday life. The paper starts with a brief presentation of the development of the method followed by a discussion about how answers to qualitative questionnaires may be analysed to benefit the most from the specifics of this tool. Examples from two studies based on material from the Mass Observation Archive, University of Sussex, and the Folklife Archives, Lund University, are introduced. The examples are chosen to illustrate two possible ways to adopt this method: to re-use an existing questionnaire and to create a new one.
Conclusion. Qualitative questionnaires generate a rich material, useful for researchers from many disciplines. The material provided by the respondents is highly informative of various aspects of everyday life, past and present, and merits more attention from scholars (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Information Research
volume
22
issue
1
article number
1639
publisher
Thomas Daniel Wilson
conference name
The Nineth International Conference on Conceptions of Library and Information Science (CoLIS)
conference location
Uppsala, Sweden
conference dates
2016-06-27 - 2016-06-29
ISSN
1368-1613
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
b0a94378-b556-4b59-914a-3b281cf3770d
alternative location
http://www.informationr.net/ir/22-1/colis/colis1639.html
date added to LUP
2016-08-22 12:57:48
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:41:21
@article{b0a94378-b556-4b59-914a-3b281cf3770d,
  abstract     = {{Introduction. We present qualitative questionnaires, originally an ethnological method for documenting and collecting material about everyday life, as a fruitful method for information studies. <br/>Method. Since the early 20th century qualitative questionnaires, on various themes, have been sent out to informants. The answers to qualitative questionnaires consist of memories, opinions and experiences. Most archives working with questionnaires have regular informants who have enrolled because they are interested in sharing their knowledge of and views on everyday life. The paper starts with a brief presentation of the development of the method followed by a discussion about how answers to qualitative questionnaires may be analysed to benefit the most from the specifics of this tool. Examples from two studies based on material from the Mass Observation Archive, University of Sussex, and the Folklife Archives, Lund University, are introduced. The examples are chosen to illustrate two possible ways to adopt this method: to re-use an existing questionnaire and to create a new one. <br/>Conclusion. Qualitative questionnaires generate a rich material, useful for researchers from many disciplines. The material provided by the respondents is highly informative of various aspects of everyday life, past and present, and merits more attention from scholars}},
  author       = {{Rivano Eckerdal, Johanna and Hagström, Charlotte}},
  issn         = {{1368-1613}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{03}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Thomas Daniel Wilson}},
  series       = {{Information Research}},
  title        = {{Qualitative questionnaires as a method for information studies research}},
  url          = {{http://www.informationr.net/ir/22-1/colis/colis1639.html}},
  volume       = {{22}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}